The Congress chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra got a respite on Thursday, as – amidst the talk of their possible replacement in the media – the party decided against making any changes of leadership. However, the reason for the respite may not be the good performance of these governments.
Political circles had been abuzz with reports of the Congress top bosses were deliberating a change in the three states. But, sources in the Congress say that the party had to back off as there are 'no alternatives [available] to these leaders as of now'. However, the Congress may bring a few new faces as heads of Pradesh Congress Committees [PCCs].
The Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, in fact, had visited the capital recently, seeking the Congress high command's suggestions regarding the ministers who are under the Central Bureau of Investigation's scanner due to their alleged involvement in the disproportionate assets case against Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. At that time, the news spread that the top brass of Congress was unhappy with him and might consider his removal.
In Maharashtra, after the sudden death of the then heavy industries minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, the Congress had no choice but to continue with Prithviraj Chavan. While a close ally of the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party, had made its unhappiness known to the centre about him. Adding fuel to fire were the Congress MLAs, who wrote a letter against Chavan to the PCC chief Manikrao Thakre. On the other hand, the Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has been facing flak for inability to control communal riots, corruption and in-fighting in the party.